A Closer Look: Tonawanda Castle's Romanesque grandeur
From the Photo series: A Closer Look: Explore Western New York’s architectural treasures series
This Tonawanda landmark was built in 1897 as an armory for the New York National Guard. In 2004, it was sold in a private auction to Mostafa Tanbakuchi, who has brought the building back to life as a full-service wedding and event venue.
A Closer Look: Tonawanda Castle's Romanesque grandeur
The Tonawanda Castle, designed as an armory for the New York National Guard by Isaac Perry, was built between 1896 and 1897 using deep red mason brick with a foundation of Warsaw blue granite.
A Closer Look: Tonawanda Castle's Romanesque grandeur
The main entrance still bears the inscription of the 25th Separate Company, New York National Guard, which was housed at the facility when it was built.
A Closer Look: Tonawanda Castle's Romanesque grandeur
A row of chandeliers hangs over the ballroom.
A Closer Look: Tonawanda Castle's Romanesque grandeur
Intricate molding bearing the inscription "Captain" denoting the room's previous use as the captain's lounge, is now used as a Groom Suite.
A Closer Look: Tonawanda Castle's Romanesque grandeur
The curved interior of the south tower makes a perfect place for a round table in the third floor Bridal Suite.
A Closer Look: Tonawanda Castle's Romanesque grandeur
The glass block bar lets natural light flow into the Bridal Suite, which was formerly used as the officer's club.
A Closer Look: Tonawanda Castle's Romanesque grandeur
A decal on the doorway casts a shadow inside the side entrance to the Tonawanda Castle.
A Closer Look: Tonawanda Castle's Romanesque grandeur
The view downstairs through the bannister on the second floor of the Tonawanda Castle.
A Closer Look: Tonawanda Castle's Romanesque grandeur
Arched windows and ironwork create picturesque shadows on the hardwood stairwell in the ballroom.
A Closer Look: Tonawanda Castle's Romanesque grandeur
An art glass transom divides two spaces in the Tonawanda Castle.
A Closer Look: Tonawanda Castle's Romanesque grandeur
Dozens of chandeliers hang over the ballroom.
A Closer Look: Tonawanda Castle's Romanesque grandeur
The molding frames the chandelier in the round sitting area inside the Groom Suite situated in the south tower.
A Closer Look: Tonawanda Castle's Romanesque grandeur
Detail of the intricate molding in the Groom Suite.
A Closer Look: Tonawanda Castle's Romanesque grandeur
A chandelier is framed by the intricate molding in the main entrance to the Tonawanda Castle.
A Closer Look: Tonawanda Castle's Romanesque grandeur
The ballroom in the Tonawanda Castle can comfortably seat 450.
A Closer Look: Tonawanda Castle's Romanesque grandeur
The roof and balconies over the ballroom are held up by massive steel buttresses.
A Closer Look: Tonawanda Castle's Romanesque grandeur
A spiral staircase in the north tower.
A Closer Look: Tonawanda Castle's Romanesque grandeur
The view of the north tower and the surrounding neighborhood from atop the south tower of the Tonawanda Castle.
A Closer Look: Tonawanda Castle's Romanesque grandeur
The sunlight casts shadows of the ironwork outside the window.
A Closer Look: Tonawanda Castle's Romanesque grandeur
The Traditional Ceremony Room on the second floor.
A Closer Look: Tonawanda Castle's Romanesque grandeur
A mural hangs over the fireplace in the Traditional Ceremony Room remains unchanged from the building's time as an armory.
A Closer Look: Tonawanda Castle's Romanesque grandeur
Sunlight filters into a sitting area in the south tower.
A Closer Look: Tonawanda Castle's Romanesque grandeur
The intricate molding on the ceiling in the Parlor Room.
A Closer Look: Tonawanda Castle's Romanesque grandeur
Every castle has to have a dungeon! A metal door in the basement.
A Closer Look: Tonawanda Castle's Romanesque grandeur
The unique shape of the building creates a variety of interesting spaces, like this sitting area on the first floor on the south tower.
A Closer Look: Tonawanda Castle's Romanesque grandeur
A marble plaque at the entrance denotes the VIPs at the time the building was commissioned as the Tonawanda Armory in 1896 under Gov. Levi Morton.
A Closer Look: Tonawanda Castle's Romanesque grandeur
The tile-topped bar in the ballroom.
A Closer Look: Tonawanda Castle's Romanesque grandeur
View of the top of the north tower from the taller south tower.
A Closer Look: Tonawanda Castle's Romanesque grandeur
Railings on the stairway to the third floor.
A Closer Look: Tonawanda Castle's Romanesque grandeur
Detail of the molding on the ceiling in the Parlor Room.
A Closer Look: Tonawanda Castle's Romanesque grandeur
Beams intersect on the wall of a sitting area in the Bridal Suite on the third floor.
A Closer Look: Tonawanda Castle's Romanesque grandeur
The grand ballroom of the Tonawanda Castle.
A Closer Look: Tonawanda Castle's Romanesque grandeur
A curtain drapes the corridor between the main entrance and the ballroom.
A Closer Look: Tonawanda Castle's Romanesque grandeur
Prior to selling the building at private auction in 2004, the state offered it to the City of Tonawanda for $1, but the city declined.
This series has taken Buffalo News photographers inside, outside, above and, on occasion, underneath local landmarks and to places most people…